June 01, 2011

handsfree kit for the slice

i know i have talked several times about how much i love my handsfree kit for my slice. and i have mentioned how, if you own a slice, you absolutely, without a doubt, need to have a handsfree kit to go with it. but sometimes, things are worth repeating ;)

"zoo fun" is an older layout, that i don't think i ever got around to sharing. i used the zootopia design card to create this layout. at the time, it was the first design card that had the layering feature on it. since then, making memories has come out with quite a few newer design cards that have this layering feature as well. btw, the adorable tiger face belongs to my good friend, lynn.

this layout is a great example of how handy the handsfree kit comes in. this layout has a TON of slicing on it. with the layering feature, you're cutting multiple pieces for each shape, that you'll then layer together. i had to have sliced at least 18 pieces for this layout, from what i can see here.

obviously, then handsfree kit is fabulous, because it's magnetic. before, you had to hold the slice in place while it did the slicing. which wasn't a huge deal to me. it's not like it takes forever to cut the shapes. BUT. once i had the magnetic mat, and i didn't have to hold my slice while it did it's slicing, i realized how nice it was that i didn't have to hold it in place. i don't know about you, but i can get a lot accomplished in 20 seconds. lol!

this gives you a little better look at the layering. you can see on the tiger and the giraffe, that there are two pieces to them. each shape on the design card has multiple pieces that can be sliced, and then layered together. some shapes have more pieces to layer than others. just depends on the shape.

it's a fun feature to use, since you can use different papers and colors, and mix them together. just like paper-piecing, back in the day. on the palm trees, you can see that i sliced the entire tree first, with the kraft cardstock. then i used the layering feature, to slice just the leaves on the palm tree, from some green pattern paper. i like to use lots of pop dots, when assembling my layered pieces together, to really show off the layering of the papers.

my second biggest reason for recommending the handsfree kit, is for the accuracey of the cuts. you will get MUCH more accurate cuts, when you use the handsfree kit. no matter how great you are at holding the slice in place while it's slicing, there's always going to be those moments where it shifts or moves. just enough to mess up your cuts. the magentic mat is so strong, that your slice isn't going to go anywhere. i guarantee it.

now, that's not to say you can put a little 4x4 square of paper down, and put the slice over that and have it cut properly. you definately need to have the paper you're working with, be larger than the slice, so that the magnetic frame clamps down on the paper from all four sides. as long as it's holding down the paper, it's strong enough that the paper will not shift.

there you go. my two biggest reasons that you NEED a handsfree kit, if you have a slice. anytime that someone asks me about it, those are the two reasons i give them, without a second thought. if you don't have one already, you might want to think about investing in one. it will make your slice even better, than it already is!

Comments

Can't say enough about my hands-free mat!! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! I also LOVE my Zootopia disk!! I really like the new layering they have been adding to their disks for the slice! This is so darn cute, Laura! I love how you popped everything up, giving it even more dimension. Googly eyes are perfect! It gives your animals such character.

This is so cute. You're one of my go-to girls for Slice ideas. :). I love my hands free kit, too. As a side note, I just watched one of the CK videos. I really like how you incorporated those hidden photos into your layouts. Cute cute!